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[BLIND TEST] 4 different kind of fuses with McIntosh preamp c2300

Chipmunk

Chipmunk

New Member
I have this sweet C2300 tube preamp for about 6 months. Few days ago it suddenly blew-out the fuse without notice.
Pull out the cartridge. Surprisingly, it was only a tiny 250mA glass tube fuse with a slow blow wire in spiral shape.
I remember the sale person did emphasize that the fuse won't last too long. Not to mention this kind of fuse is famous of having Microphonic effect.

Ok, did some search on the web and WOW, …there were tones of posts discussed about fuses !
Some swear expensive fuse made a huge improvement. Some didn't give a shxt.
Ceramic, Cryo, pure silver, gold and even Rhodium plated …..etc. From USD 0.5 to USD 125 …per piece !!!

The shop keeper was so nice giving me a ten minutes speech about the holy cryogenic process…
He showed me a few brands. A Germany made pure silver fuse from HiFi-tuning.com cost usd 36.
Super-Cryo, a Japanese product made of ordinary fuse material but gone through a cryo process, cost usd 32.
The last one from Infinity Evolution with Rhodium plating cost usd 70! Don't know where it made.
I finally pick up the Super-Cryo because the McIntosh rep told me silver or Rhodium would change the c2300 sound characteristic.

I paid 32 dollars and actually walked out the shop with hesitation.
On my way back hone, I decided to perform a "Blind Test" just to verify my 32 dollars was well spent, now its fun.
I got the other 3 kind of fuses, as show in the following photo.
And they are much much cheaper.

Fuse2-sm-1.jpg
 
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I threw all 4 fuses in a black pocket. Slip my hands inside the pocket, install the fuse into the cartridge without looking at it.
Test each one by 30 minutes of music, then hide it inside a tea cup in sequence, again, with my eyes closed. Fair enough.


4cups.jpg


Here are my test equipments:
LP: Pro-ject 5.1 modified.
cartridge: Audio-Technique OC9
preamp: McIntosh c2300
Power amp: McIntosh MC240
interconnect: Acrolink 6N-A2400II
Speaker: QUAD ESL 57

The LP was Eric Clapton Unplugged, Vinyl, Side 3, all 3 songs.
- Walkin' blues
- Alberta
- San francisco bay blues.

And, here is the test result: (I won't tell you which one is which till next post)


testresultmatriz.jpg
 
You can take a guess before scrolling down to the final result below……



























result.jpg



Well, I was sweating when I opened up the cups.

Cooper Bussmann fuse was not bad at all, except the leaking of metal brightness and juicy feeling like cryo.
And more important, its cheap.
I am trying not to say if you buy an expensive fuse, it will give you this or that.
But it seems the cryo fuse helped me to gain what I may have lost.
The Super-Cryo fuse was outstanding, and it did not alter the C2300 sound characteristic too much.
The c2300 was still clean, gentle and full of texture.
I don't know why this tiny little fuse made the change. Appreciate someone can help explain technically.
Hope you enjoy the above story, I am glad to share in AR.
 
Interesting results. Undoubtedly many will scoff. I'm not one of them. My only question is, that the one glass bodied fuse came in last. From handling fuses I know that glass and ceramic don't feel the same to fingers. Were I you I would now try the test with someone else changing the fuses.

The next time I buy some fuses I may spring for an "audio grade" one and try the test myself. I admire your strength. You're going to get lots of derision and vitriol from the usual suspects. None of whom will try to disprove your results by actually trying the same test. Not posting this in TOL takes guts. My hat's off to you.
 
Thanks JoeESP9 for your comment. Its a good point of the tube texture, thats why I put it in the consideration before the test. I pick only the cap area for the installation inside the pocket. May be I should get a helper for this kind of "blind" test next time.

Anyway, don't take this test too serious, hope its fun for reading.

Frank.
 
No matter the level of rigor and/or results, I'm just glad to see someone making any effort at all. Thanks for the interesting read.
 
Thanks for sticking your neck out.
I'm happy to be the beneficiary of your time and attention to detail, though you're the beneficiary of the experience.
 
Great, we have the blind test that so many are calling for. We now have a factual ranking of the array of fuses.

Super.
 
stereofanboy said:
No matter the level of rigor and/or results, I'm just glad to see someone making any effort at all. Thanks for the interesting read.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. Excellent post, as well done as you could do by yourself. I have always wondered why people who have these fuses don't try to do this type of simple test. Not necessarily scientific but a lot better than darn near anything I've seen from anyone else.
Having someone else do it with you, or even doing it again by yourself would be great, but it sure is a hassle when you'd rather be listening to music just to enjoy.
Thanks!
 
Thanks everyone!
I did the test just because I need something to convince my ear.
Besides of the 32 dollars, I found the extra one dollar for the other 3 tubes was in fact well spent.

Frank.
 
Thanks for taking the time and energy to do this, Very interesting to say the least.
Regards,
Jim
 
Thanks for the info and the time you spent...

I tend to agree fuses matter. How much they matter is up to the listener

I have 4 Hi-Fi Tuning SilverStar fuses in my amp (made a thread about it) I believe the amp is more 'mellow' with them in it
 
Very interesting.

Thanks for your time and effort in performing the comparisons and being brave enough to post your results here.

What about "super tuning" with fuses?

Two or more different fuses in series to combine the attributes of more than one fuse.

Some research on my very long list of to do items. Try comparing fuses on the DC side of the power supply. It would be interesting to see if the same perceptions of sound quality hold true on the DC side of the power supply.

Maybe one brand of fuse on the AC side of the power supply and a different brand on the DC side of the power supply. The combination being better than either fuse by its self.

Not taking sides, just food for thought.
 
JBL GUY said:
What about "super tuning" with fuses?
Two or more different fuses in series to combine the attributes of more than one fuse.
Click to expand...

My guess is that the benefit of these "HiFi" fuses is that they remove some of the bad that regular fuses impart. IOW, the best thing would be no fuse at all.
One "HiFi" fuse is a compromise compared to no fuse, but less of a compromise than one regular fuse.
But 2 "HiFi" fuses (in series) would not be better than only 1 "HiFi" fuse.

But then again, you pretty much need to throw theory out the window when you start to mess with these things anyway so who knows.
 
bill72pa said:
Now repeat the test and let us know if you rank them in the same order.
Click to expand...


Its a good suggestion, I may try to do it agin with more audience.

In fact, I agree no fuse is even better.
We have to use British standard power system and receptacle here. Most of the audiophile have either removed the connector fuse or changed to IEC socket (even its illegal..) In most of the cases, it gives more bass punch and detail.

One addition finding, the Bussann fuse has fine sand filled inside the ceramic tube.
It helps absorb vibration and reduce microphonic effect.

To fuse or not to fuse, that is the question...

Have fun.
Frank.
 
Chipmunk said:
<snip>

In fact, I agree no fuse is even better.
We have to use British standard power system and receptacle here. Most of the audiophile have either removed the connector fuse or changed to IEC socket (even its illegal..) In most of the cases, it gives more bass punch and detail.
<snip>
Click to expand...

Now That's clever!:thmbsp:
 
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